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SB651

Regular Session

Relating to the requirement that a veterans county service office report to the commissioners court or a designated county executive official.

Low
Low Cost
Effective:2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies

County Commissioners Court

01

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: September 1, 2025
  • Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025 (Counties must have the reporting structure formalized by this date).
  • Agency Rulemaking: None. Implementation is handled locally via Commissioners Court resolution; no state-level agency will issue guidance.

Immediate Action Plan

For County Administrators & Government Affairs Members:

  • 1. Verify Population Threshold: Confirm if your county exceeds the 200,000 population metric based on the most recent census data.
  • 2. Docket the Resolution: If restructuring, place the designation of the supervising official on the Commissioners Court agenda prior to September 1, 2025.
  • 3. Update HR Protocols: Revise the VCSO job description to align the reporting line with the new court order.

For Private Sector Members:

  • 1. No Action Required: File this update for informational purposes regarding county organizational charts.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Public Sector: County legal departments must amend the employment contract and job description of the Veterans County Service Officer to reflect the new "Reports To" designation if the Court delegates oversight.

Private Sector: No changes required for vendor agreements or Master Services Agreements (MSAs).

Hiring/Training

Public Sector: Performance review protocols must be updated. The designated executive official assumes authority for leave approval, budget submission, and personnel management previously held by the Court body.

Private Sector: None.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

Public Sector: Commissioners Courts opting for this structure must pass a formal resolution designating the specific "county executive official" with oversight authority. Organizational charts must be updated to show the VCSO as a distinct department reporting to said official.

Private Sector: None.

Fees & Costs

Public Sector: No fiscal impact. This is an administrative restructuring.

Private Sector: None.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

Definition of "County Executive Official"

The statute does not explicitly define which roles qualify as a "county executive official." It is unclear if this authority is limited to a County Administrator/Manager or if it extends to other Department Heads.

  • Guidance: Until clarified by an Attorney General opinion, counties should interpret this conservatively—designating the County Administrator or a direct report to the Commissioners Court—to avoid challenges regarding improper delegation of statutory oversight.

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

02

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Dec 18, 2024
Passed Senate
Apr 16, 2025
Passed House
May 20, 2025
Signed
May 30, 2025
TopicsCounty GovernmentCounty Government--employees/officersCounty Government--generalMilitary & Veterans
03

Official Analysis

View HRO AnalysisView All Bill Documents

BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center

S.B. 651

89R4648 JBD-D

By: West

Veteran Affairs

3/17/2025

As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Currently a number of county agencies and departments report directly to the commissioners court. Allowing the veterans county service office to report to a designee instead of the court itself would reduce backlog and inefficiency in large counties with high demand.

This bill would amend Section 434.032(a) of the Government Code so that a veterans county service office in a county with a population of 200,000 or more can report to a designee of the commissioners court, not exclusively the commissioners court itself. 

As proposed, S.B. 651 amends current law relating to the requirement that a veterans county service office report to the commissioners court or a designee of the commissioners court.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 434.032(a), Government Code, to require a veterans county service office to meet certain criteria, including reporting directly to the commissioners court or a designee of the commissioners court.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.

Senate Authors

Sen. Royce WestDemocrat · Primary Author
Coauthors (1)

House Sponsor

Rep. Ray LopezDemocrat · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

S.B. No. 651
View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

AN ACT
relating to the requirement that a veterans county service office
report to the commissioners court or a designated county executive
official.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Section 434.032(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
       (a)  In a county with a population of 200,000 or more, the
commissioners court shall maintain a veterans county service
office. The office must:
             (1)  be separate and distinct from other county
offices;
             (2)  be staffed by at least one full-time employee; and
             (3)  report directly to the commissioners court or a
designated county executive official.
       SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
March 16, 2025

TO:
Honorable Kelly Hancock, Chair, Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB651 by West (Relating to the requirement that a veterans county service office report to the commissioners court or a designee of the commissioners court.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
LBB Staff:
JMc, KDw, BC, CWi

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB651

Q

What does Texas SB651 do?

SB651 authorizes counties with populations exceeding 200,000 to restructure the reporting line of the Veterans County Service Office (VCSO) to a designated executive official rather than the Commissioners Court. This is a governance mandate for public sector administrators; private sector members face no direct compliance obligations but should note the administrative hierarchy change for veteran services. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025 (Counties must have the reporting structure formalized by this date).

Q

Who authored SB651?

SB651 was authored by Texas Senator Royce West during the Regular Session.

Q

When was SB651 signed into law?

SB651 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on May 30, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce SB651?

SB651 is enforced by County Commissioners Court.

Q

How urgent is compliance with SB651?

The compliance urgency for SB651 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

Q

What is the cost impact of SB651?

The cost impact of SB651 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does SB651 address?

SB651 addresses topics including county government, county government--employees/officers, county government--general and military & veterans.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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